Spring has arrived!  At least the calendar says so. And three weeks ago at that. But some days feel more like summer (one day was 80 degrees!) and others feel more like winter again, dipping into the 30s over night. We even had snow flurries last weekend. This is how it is for us living in Virginia. Summer one day… Winter the next. I can’t put away the boots and the parka just yet. I love the days when we actually have temps in the 60s…. opening windows and letting in the fresh air. A friend once told me opening the windows was like a form of spring cleaning. A renewal of sorts. It is definitely refreshing!

I love all of the seasons. All four of them. They each have something special to offer. And when it’s time for the next one to roll in I’m ready for it!

Spring…. I love Spring for its warmer temperatures after a cold winter, for the flowers in bloom and new leaves on the trees. Green leaves against the backdrop of a clear blue sky just makes me happy. I love the flurry of life outdoors after a wintry hibernation. Birds are chirping and squirrels scurry for nuts buried the fall before. I spend more time outdoors as well, soaking up the sun with a nice relaxing meal on a restaurant patio, longer walks in the neighborhood, and a casual stroll down the boardwalk.

Summer…. When you live at the beach the reasons you love Summer should be obvious shouldn’t they! Summer is the time kids run free and days run long. Summer is bike rides on the boardwalk, halter tops and sundresses, and cold beverages on a hot day. The smell of fresh cut grass on summer afternoon, lightning bugs at dusk and the sound of crickets and frogs at night. Summer is long days at the beach or on the water ….soaking up sun, watching the waves and closing your eyes to take a deep breath of salt air. Summer is cookouts with friends and family, late nights on the patio, Fourth of July fireworks and ice cream for dessert. Summer brings out the kid in all of us.

And then there’s Fall. After a hot and humid summer I’m ready for Fall. Cooler days and even cooler nights. And once again we open the windows to welcome fresh air into our homes.  Fall is sweaters and boots, apple picking, and fire pits. Fall is football season (Go Hokies!). The change of color in the trees blankets us in red, orange and maroon (Go Hokies!), gold and yellow. Fall is Thanksgiving and pumpkin pie. And Fall brings my birth month, October…. The Month of Lori.

December brings the start of winter. The holidays are in full swing and for me that means Christmas. I love hot cider on a cold night, shopping for just the right gift and wrapping it in my signature style, warm fires with a glass of red wine, Christmas carols and homemade bread pudding (I make a really good one!).  And then comes New Year’s. That’s when this blog began.  New Year’s invites us to reflect on the year gone by and make resolutions for the year ahead.  January and February bring the possibility of snow (remember – I’m in Virginia, it’s not a guarantee). Fresh, fluffy, powdery snow.  I love the muffled sound of a fresh fallen snow. It is quiet and peaceful. I won’t discuss the slushy mess after two days of melting. I choose to remember the beauty of those first hours. But after weeks of freezing temperatures, parkas, hats, gloves, boots, and scarves, I’m finally ready for spring.